Straw-stacker



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.' S. BUPKIN. STRAW STAGKER.

INVENTOR.

No. 427,736. Patented May 13, 1890.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' S BUPKIN STRAW STAGKER.

Patented'yMay 13, 1890.

ATTEST- @MW INVENTOR.

j fJM/z #ggz/VM l (No Model.) 4 'sheets-sheen 3. S. BUFKIN. STRAW STAGKER.

No. 427,736. Patented Mary 13, 1890.

ATTEST- 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

S. BUFKIN. STRAW STAGKER.

No. 427,736. Patented May 13, 1890.

11 lll FIG. I3.

ATTEST mi: uonms versus co., PHo'To-Lmlo., wAsNxNm'oN, n. z:A

`ken away.

UNITED STATES PATENT EETCE.

SAMUEL BUFKIN, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA.

STRAW-STACKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 427,736, dated May 13, 1890.

Application tiled November 6, 1889. Serial No. 329,387. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL BUFKIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Anderson, in the county of Madison and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Straw-Stackers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in straw-stackcrs, and more particularly to improvements in the mechanism employed in raising and lowering the carrier-frame and for swinging the same from side to side alitomatically.

My said invention consists in certain novelties in the details of the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts, all of which I will now proceed to point out and describe, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l isa perspective of a straw-stacker embodying my said invention, showing the elevator-frame unfolded and in an inoperative position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, showing the machine in an operative position and ready for transportation. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the opposite from that shown in Fig. 2, parts of the same being bro- Fig. 4.- is an end elevation, parts ot' the machine being removed. Fig. 5v is a top plan view of the turn-table, the elevatortrame being removed and one of the switch or end pieces of the rack also being removed. Fig. (l is a bottom plan. view of a portion of the main frame of the machine and the turntable supported thereon. Fig. 7 is a bottom plan View of the turn-t-ablc and the pinion engaging the rack of said table, the swinging arm or bracket on which said pinion is supported being shown in dotted lines. Figs. S, 0, l0, ll, l2, 13, and 14 are details illustrating various parts of my said invention.

Reterrin g to said drawings, l represents the truck or main frame of the stacker, consisting of the side bars 2 and transverse bars 3, forming a substantially square space between said side and transverse bars. To the ends of the frame are secured suitable axles 4, upon which are mounted wheels 5. In the corners of the space formed between thc side and transverse bars arc secured diagonal brackets G, said brackets forming braces for thc frame. To each bracket is secured a pintle 7, on which mounted a roller-bearing S.

i) is a circular turn-table provided wit-h a central hub l0 and diamctrically-.arranged braces or arms ll, connecting the hub and table. The under side of the turn-table is provided with an inwardly-projeeting annular flange l2, the bottom of which rests upon the roller-bearings S.

14 are u pwardly-proj ect-in g studs formed on the brackets G, having projecting pintles l5, on which are mounted rollers 16, which cngage the upper surface of the annular flange l2 and serve to hold the table in position upon its bearings.

l5 is the elevator-frame, which may be ot any desired construction, and is provided with the hinged and folding section 16,

17 is a transverse shaft mounted in bearings in the lower rear end of the elevatorframe. Said shaft projects beyond the sides of the frame, and to its ends are pivotally secured lever-arms 1S, extending parallel with each other and having their opposite ends pivotally secured to diametrically-opposite points on the outside of the turn-table. Said lever-arms are preferably formed in the shape of a truss-brace and are provided with the brace-bars 19.

2O are parallel projecting arms secured to the turn-table.

2l are upwardly-extending and parallel segmental racks rigidly secured to said arms andto the turn-table.

22 are downwardly-cxtending and parallel segmental racks rigidly secured to the lower rear end of the elevator-frame. Said segmental racks 2l and 22 are arranged upon the arcs of circles having dillterent centers, the racks 22 being larger than the racks 2l and formed in the arc 0E a circle of greater diameter than the circle in the arc of which the rack 2l is formed. Said racks 22 pass on the outside of the racks 2l and slightly overlap the same. The lever-arms are so arranged that their ends are pivotcd at the cen- IOO ters of the circles in the arcs of which the racks are formed.

23 are bearings formed in the lever-arms 1S, and preferably in the cross bars or braces 19, as shown.

24 is a transverse counter-shaft mounted in the bearings 23.

25 are pinions rigidly mounted upon the shaft 24 and engaging with the segmental racks 22. a

2G are smaller pinions, also rigidly mounted upon the shaft 24 and adapted to engage with the segmental racks 2l.

27 is a worm-wheel rigidly mounted on the shaft 24 at its center. Said worm-wheel is iuclosed by a box or housing 28, loosely mounted on said shaft 24 and-formed in upper and lower sections bolted to each other. The upper section of the box or housing has projecting therefrom a sleeve -bearing 29, which terminates in a forked end 30.

3l are bearings formed in the end of each arm of the fork.

32 is a short shaft mount-ed in the sleevebearing 2,9, said shaft being' arranged substantially at right angles to the shaft 24.

33 is a worm formed on one end of the shaft 32 and engaging with the worin-wheel 27, said Worm being located within the box or housing.

34 is a bevel-gear rigidly mounted on the outer end of the shaft and located between the arms of the fork 30.

35 are bearings formed on the lever-arms near their. lower pivoted ends.

36 is a main shaft mounted in said bearings `35 and passing through the bearings 3l in the forked end of the sleeve.

37is a bevel-gear mounted on the shaft 3G between the forked end of said sleeve and engaging with the bevel-gear 34.

38 is a crank secured to one end of the shaft 36. If desired, each end of the shaft may be provided with a crank. The outer ends of the arms 2O project beyond the frames of the racks 2l and form stops 39. To one side of the racks 2l, at the point where the teeth terminate, I provide teeth or projections 40.

41 are cams rigidly mounted on the shaft 24 next to and on the inside of the pinions 26. Said cams are provided with shoulders 42, which as the shaft is revolved are adapted to engage with the teeth or projections 40 and throw the pinions26in gear with the racks 21.

The construction so far described constitutes the mechanism by means of which the front and rear ends of the elevator-frame may be simultaneously raised or lowered. For convenience I will now describe the operation of this part of my said invention. Then the stacker is in an inoperative position and ready for transportation and the hinged section of the elevator-frame is folded up` as shown in Fig. 2, the pinions 2G are disengaged from the racks .2l and the center of gravity of the machine is back of the pivotal points of the lower ends of the lever-arms. The cams 4l then rest upon the stops 40, thus limiting the further downward movement of the rear end of the elevator-frame, the forward end of said frame resting upon supports 44, secured to the forward end of the truck on which said elevator-frame is mounted. Vhen it is desired to use the stacker, the elevatorframe is unfolded, as shown in Fig. l, the center of gravity of said elevator-frame changes to the opposite side of the lower pivoted ends of the lever-arms from that shown in Fig. 2, and the rear end of the elevator-frame rises until the cams 4l rest against the under side of the teeth or projections 40. As the shaft 24 is rotated thro ugh the mechanism described, the shoulders 42 engage with the stops 40 and throw the pinions 26 in gear with the racks 2l. As said shaft is rotated, the pinions 25, engaging with the racks 22, raise the forward end of the elevator-frame. At the same time the pinions 2G engage with the racks 2l and travel up said racks, thus raising the rear or receiving end of the elevator-frame. The pinions 25, however, being larger than the pinions 26, the forward or distributingend of the elevator-frame is raised with greater rapidity than the rear receiving end, and, if desired, the shaft 24 may be rotated to cause the pinions 25 to engage the racks 22 before the frame is unfolded to cause the cams 4l to engage the stops 40 and throw the pinions 26 in gear with the racks 21, thus giving the forward distributing end of the frame a greater elevation. The object of this feature of my said invention is to raise the front end of the elevator-frame, so that it will be able to distribute upon a high stack, and at the same time raise the lower receiving end, so that the angle of elevation will not be so great, and permit the endless belt to readily carry the straw up the elevator.

Iwill now describe t-he mechanism by which the turn-table is operated and the distributing end of the elevator-frame automatically swung back and forward in the arc of a circle.

. 47 isa circular casting secured to the under side of the arms 1l of the turn-table and concentric therewith. On. the under side of said casting are formed circular racks 43 and '49, the teeth of which are oppositely disposed toward each other, the teeth of the rack 48 projecting in toward the centerof the turn-table and the teeth of the rack 49 projecting out from the center of said turn-table. Said racks are also concentric with each other and with the turn-table. In the space between said racks andthe same distance from each I form on the under side of the casting 47 an annular flange 50.

5l is a cross-bar connecting the transverse bars of the truck or main frame.

52 are bearings formed on the under side of the bar 5]. and one of the side bars of the frame. 53 is a shaft mounted in said bearings 52. Said shaft is provided ou its outer TOO IIO

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end with a crank 54, by means of which it may be operated by hand, and also with a pulley, so that it can be connected with suitble driving-power.

55 is a bearing secured to one side of the bar 51.

56 is a short Vertical shaft mounted in said bearing and passing up through the hub of the turn-table. 57 is a bevel-gear on the lower end of said vertical shaft, which engages with a bevel-gear 58, mounted on the inner end of the shaft 53.

59 is a pinion, also mounted on the vertical shaft 56 and secured to the bevel-gear 57, or formed integral therewith.

60 is a vertical pintle secured to and projecting down from the cross-bar 5l.

61 is a gear mounted on the pintle 60 and engaging with the pinion 59.

62 is a pinion, also mounted on the pintle GO, and preferably formed integral with the gear 6l.

63 is a short verticalshaft mounted in a bearing 64, attached to the cross-bar 51, and

having loosely mounted on its lower portion below the bar 51 a gear 65, which engages with the pinion 62. The short vertical shaft 63 is provided with an eccentric head 66, having a spring-actuating clutch-pin 67, adapted to engage a hole 68 in the face of the gear to connect or disconnect said gear with the shaft G3, so as to throw the turn-table in or out of gear, as hereinafter described. 69 is a pinion rigidly mounted on the upper end of said shaft 63.

70 is a swinging bracket pivoted on the shaft 63 and having a vertical bearing 71 formed in its free end. 72 is a vertical spindle mounted in said bearing.

7 3 is a gear mounted on the upper end of the spindle 72 and engaging with t-he pinion 69. The bracket 70, having its pivotal point on the shaft 63, the gear 7 3 and pinion 69 are held in engagement at all positions which the bracket may assume.

74 is a pinion mounted on the spindle 72, above the gear 7 3, and is either secured to said gear or formed integral therewith. Said pinion 74 engages the circular racks of the turn-table.

75 is a pin or stud projecting' above the center of the pinion 74 and engages with the annular flange 50 to hold the pinion in enn gagement with the racks.

76 are recesses or openings formed in the upper side of the circular casting 47.

77 are reversible switch or end blocks, which conform tothe shape of and are placed in the openings 7 6. On one side of said switchblocks are oppositelydisposed segmental racks 7 8, the teeth of which a-re of the same size as the teeth of the circular racks. On the opposite side of the blocks are segmental flanges 7 9, arranged in the arc of a circle of the same diameter as the annular flange 50. Vhen said blocks are inserted with the racks down, said racks form a communication or switch connecting the circular racks 48 and 49. flanged side down, said flange forms a continuation of the annular flange 50, and does not interfere with the operation of the pinion with the circular racks.

Any desired number of switclrblocks may be used. For convenience I have shown but three in the present drawings. These switchblocks are intended to regulate the distance the upper discharging endv of the elevatorframe will swing, so as to build a large or small stack, and also to transfer the pinion from one circular rack to the other as it reaches the switch-block, thus automatically reversing the swinging movement of the elevator-f rame, and causing its discharge end to swing back and forward in a longer or shorter arc, as desired. The operation of this portion of my invention will be readily understood. The switch-blocks are first adjusted to give the turn-table the desired movement, so that the end of the elevator-frame will move in a greater or smaller arc. The pinion 74 will be presumed to bein engagement with the outer rack, as shown in the drawings, as said pinion is operated through the mechanism described, the turn-table moved in one direction untilthe switch-block reachesthe pinion which engages with the rack on the block and is transferred to the inner rack, and the movement of the turn-table and consequent movement of elevator-frame reversed, the pinion being again transferred to the outer rack when it reaches the opposite switch-block.

8O is a horizontal shaft mounted in bearings Sl on the turn-table and having on its inner end a bevel-gear S2, which engages with a bevel-gear 83, mounted on the upper end of the vertical shaft 56. 84 is a pulley mounted on the outer end of said shaft S0.

85 are pulleys mounted on the shaft 17. 86 is a belt connecting said pulleys.

87 are rollers or pulleys, also mounted on the shaft 17, on which the endless carrier-belt 187 is mounted, and by means of which said carrier is operated.

S8 are eccentrics secured on opposite ends of the shaft 17. 89 are pitman-arms mounted on said eccentrics and having secured to their outer ends an oscillating receiving and feeder table 90.

91 are braces secured at one end to the leverarms I8 and having their upper ends pivotally secured to the under side of the table 90. The straw is received upon the table and is moved forward and deposited upon the carrier-belt by the movement of' said table.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a straw-stacker, the combination, with a turn-table having two parallel lever-arms 'secured thereto, of an elevator-frame having its lower receiving end pivoted to the other When the blocks are inserted with the i IOO IIO

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ends of said lever-arms, two parallel and upwardly-extendin g segmental racks secured to the turn-table, two parallel and downwardlyextending racks secured to the elevator-fram e, a transverse shaft mounted in bearings in the lever-arms and interposed between the oppositely-arranged racks, two sets of pinions mounted on the transverse shaft, one set engaging the upwardly-extending rack andthe other set engaging the downwardly-extending rack, and mechanism for rotating said shaft, all constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as shown and described.

2. In a straw-stacker, the combination, with a turn-table and the parallel lever-arms 18, pivoted at one end to said table, ofthe elevatorframe 15, pivoted at its lower receiving end to the other ends of said arms, the upwardlyextending parallel segmental racks 2l, secured to said table, the downwardly-extendin'g parallel segmental racks 22, secured to the elevator-frame, the transverse shaft 24, mounted in bearings 23 in the lever-arms, the pinions 25, mounted upon the shaft 24 and engaging with the racks 22, the smaller pinions 26, also mounted upon said shaft and engaging the racks 21, and means for rotating said shaft 24, all constructed, arranged, and operatingsubstantially as shown and described.

In a straw-stacker, the combinatiomw'ith a turn-table and the parallel lever-arms 18, pivoted at one end to said table, of the folding elevator-frame 15, pivoted at its lower receiving end to the other ends of said leverarms, the upwardly-extending parallel segmental racks 21, secured to said table, the

stops 39, located below the racks 21, the pro-- jections 40, to one side of and at the lower end of said racks, the downwardly-extending parallel racks 22, secured to the elevatorframe, the transverse shaft 24, mounted in bearings 23 in the lever-arms, the pinions 25, mounted upon the shaft and engaging with the racks 22, the smaller pinions 26, also mounted upon said shaft and adapted to engage the racks 21, the cams 41, mounted upon the transverse shaft and adapted to rest upon the stops 39 when the elevator-frame is in an inoperative position, having shoulders 42, adapted to engage the projections 40 to throw the pinions 26 in gear with the racks 21 when the elevator-frame is in an operative position, and means for rotating the transverse shaft, all constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as shown and described.

4. In a straw-stacker, the combination, with a turn-table and the parallel lever-arms 18, pivoted at one end to said table, ofthe elevatorframe 15 having its lower receiving end pivoted to the other ends of the lever-arms, the upwardlyextending parallel segmental racks 21, secured to the tu r11-table, the downwardlyextending parallel segmental racks 22, se-

cured to the elevator-framc, the transverse shaft 24, mounted in bearings 23 in the leverarms, the pin-ions 25, mounted upon the shaft 24, engaging the racks 22, the pinions 26, also mounted upon the shaft 24 and engaging the racks 21, the main shaft 36, mounted in bearings on the lever-arms, means for rotating said shaft, a worm-wheel 27, mounted upon the shaft 24, a box or housing inclosing said worm-wheel, the sleeve-bearing 29, projccting from said boX or housing and having its end pivotally supported on the main shaft, the short shaft 32, mounted in said sleeve-bearing, the worm 33 on one end of said shaft 32, engaging the worm-wheel, the bevel-gear 34, mounted on the other end of said shaft, and the bevel-gear 37, mounted on said main shaft and engaging the gear 34, all constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as shown and described.

5. In a straw-stacker, the combination, with a truck, of a turn-table suitably mounted thereon and provided on its under side with the concentric circular racks 48 and 49, having oppositely-arranged teeth, the annular guide-flange 50, located between said racks, and the removable and reversible switchblocks 7 7 having on one face segmental racks 78, and on their opposite faces the segmental flanges 79, substantially as shown and described, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a straw-stacker, the combination, with a truck, a turn-table mounted thereon and prov-ided on its under side with concentric circular `racks 48 and 49, an annular flange 50, located between said racks, and the removable and reversible switch-blocks 77, having on one face the segmental flange 79 and on their opposite faces the segmental racks 78, for the purpose set forth, of thev swinging bracket 70, pivoted on the truck-frame, the vertical spindle mounted on said bracket, the pinion 74, mounted on said spindle and engaging the circular racks, and provided with a centrally-projecting pin or stud engaging the guide-flange, and mechanism for rotating said pinion 74, all constructed, arranged,and operating substantially as shown and described. n

7. In a straw-stacker, the combination, with a truck, a turn-table mounted thereon and provided on its underside with concentric circular racks 48 and 49, an annular guideiiange 50, located between said racks, and the removable and reversible switch -blocks 77, having on one. face the segmental racks 78, adapted to form a communication between the racks 48 and 49, and on their opposite faces the segmental flanges 79, adapted when in position to form a continuation of the guide flange, of the short vertical shaft G3, mounted in bearings on the truck, a gear 65, loosely mounted on the shaft, a spring clutchpin 67 for rigidly securing the gear to said shaft, mechanism for rotatingk the gear 65, a pinion 69, rigidly mounted on the upper end of the shaft 63, a swinging bracket 70, pivoted on said shaft 63, a Vertical spindle 72,

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In testimony whereof I affix my signature in To presence of two Witnesses.

SAMUEL BUEKIN.

Witnesses:

G. O. DRIsooLL, HOWARD STURDEVANT. 

